United Nations Security Council Resolution 1436
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1436, adopted unanimously on September 24, 2002, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone
, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
(UNAMSIL) for a further six months beginning on September 30, 2002.
Sierra Leone President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
had requested the extension due to fighting in neighbouring Liberia
which threatened the peace process.
in May 2002, the launch of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
and Truth and Reconciliation Commission and progress made in developing the capacity of the Sierra Leone Police
and armed forces
was welcomed by the Council. It noted the fragile situation in the Mano River
region, particularly the conflict
in neighbouring Liberia and the humanitarian implications. The importance of the extension of state authority in Sierra Leone including the diamond
fields, the reintegration of ex-combatants, the return of refugees and internally displaced person
s, and full respect for human rights
and rule of law
was stressed.
regarding the size and structure of the peacekeeping
operation. UNAMSIL was urged to complete phases 1 and 2 of the Secretary-General's plan, including a reduction of troop size within 8 months. There was concern at a shortfall in financial contributions towards the disarmament
, demobilisation
and reintegration programme.
The resolution emphasised the development of institutions in Sierra Leone and welcomed efforts by the Sierra Leonean government
to establish control in volatile diamond mining areas. It emphasised a comprehensive approach to strengthening the Sierra Leonean Police and supported the Special Court and Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Countries in the Mano River Union
were urged to continue dialogue and implement commitments with regard to regional peace and security, and the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) and Morocco
were also encouraged to find a settlement of the crisis in the region.
The Secretary-General intended to find a solution to the crisis in Liberia, which was welcomed by the Council. Additionally, armed groups and the Liberian armed forces
were called upon to refrain from illegal incursions into Sierra Leone. The Security Council welcomed steps by UNAMSIL to prevent sexual abuse
and exploitation of women and children and its support for the return of refugees. Finally, the security, political, humanitarian and human rights situation in Sierra Leone would be kept under review by the Secretary-General.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1436, adopted unanimously on September 24, 2002, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone was a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Sierra Leone from 1999 to 2005. It was created by the United Nations Security Council in October 1999 to help with the implementation of the Lomé Peace Accord, an agreement intended to end the Sierra Leonean...
(UNAMSIL) for a further six months beginning on September 30, 2002.
Sierra Leone President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah served as President of Sierra Leone from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007.He worked for the United Nations Development Programme and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992...
had requested the extension due to fighting in neighbouring Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
which threatened the peace process.
Observations
In the preamble of the resolution, the holding of general electionsSierra Leonean general election, 2002
General elections were held in Sierra Leone on 14 May 2002 to elect a president and parliament. Both votes were won by the Sierra Leone People's Party, whose leader, Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, was re-elected as President...
in May 2002, the launch of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
Special Court for Sierra Leone
The Special Court for Sierra Leone is an independent judicial body set up to "try those who bear greatest responsibility" for the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sierra Leone after 30 November 1996 during the Sierra Leone Civil War...
and Truth and Reconciliation Commission and progress made in developing the capacity of the Sierra Leone Police
Sierra Leone Police
The Sierra Leone Police locally known as Salone Police is the national police force of the Republic of Sierra Leone, responsible for law enforcement and crime investigation throughout Sierra Leone...
and armed forces
Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces
The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces is the armed forces of Sierra Leone, responsible for the territorial security of Sierra Leone's border and defending the national interests of Sierra Leone, within the framework of its international obligations...
was welcomed by the Council. It noted the fragile situation in the Mano River
Mano River
The Mano River is a river in west Africa, it originates in the Guinea Highlands in Liberia and forms part of the Liberia – Sierra Leone border....
region, particularly the conflict
Second Liberian Civil War
The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy , emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and...
in neighbouring Liberia and the humanitarian implications. The importance of the extension of state authority in Sierra Leone including the diamond
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
fields, the reintegration of ex-combatants, the return of refugees and internally displaced person
Internally displaced person
An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
s, and full respect for human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
was stressed.
Acts
The Security Council praised the efforts of UNAMSIL troop-contributing countries and noted proposals by the Secretary-General Kofi AnnanKofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
regarding the size and structure of the peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operation. UNAMSIL was urged to complete phases 1 and 2 of the Secretary-General's plan, including a reduction of troop size within 8 months. There was concern at a shortfall in financial contributions towards the disarmament
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms...
, demobilisation
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
and reintegration programme.
The resolution emphasised the development of institutions in Sierra Leone and welcomed efforts by the Sierra Leonean government
Politics of Sierra Leone
Government of Sierra Leone is the governing authority of the Republic of Sierra Leone, as established by the Sierra Leone Constitution. The Sierra Leone government is divided into three branches: the Executive Legislative and the Judiciary...
to establish control in volatile diamond mining areas. It emphasised a comprehensive approach to strengthening the Sierra Leonean Police and supported the Special Court and Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Countries in the Mano River Union
Mano River Union
The Mano River Union is an international association established in 1973 between Liberia and Sierra Leone. In 1980, Guinea joined the union. The goal of the Union was to foster economic cooperation among the countries...
were urged to continue dialogue and implement commitments with regard to regional peace and security, and the Economic Community of West African States
Economic Community of West African States
The Economic Community of West African States is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region....
(ECOWAS) and Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
were also encouraged to find a settlement of the crisis in the region.
The Secretary-General intended to find a solution to the crisis in Liberia, which was welcomed by the Council. Additionally, armed groups and the Liberian armed forces
Armed Forces of Liberia
The Armed Forces of Liberia are the armed forces of the Republic of Liberia. Founded as the Liberian Frontier Force in 1908, the military was retitled in 1956. For virtually all of its history, the AFL has received considerable materiel and training assistance from the United States. For most of...
were called upon to refrain from illegal incursions into Sierra Leone. The Security Council welcomed steps by UNAMSIL to prevent sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
and exploitation of women and children and its support for the return of refugees. Finally, the security, political, humanitarian and human rights situation in Sierra Leone would be kept under review by the Secretary-General.
See also
- Elections in Sierra LeoneElections in Sierra LeoneElections in Sierra Leone gives information on election and election results in Sierra Leone.Sierra Leone elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by the people...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1401 to 1500 (2002 – 2003)
- Sierra Leone Civil WarSierra Leone Civil WarThe Sierra Leone Civil War began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front , with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia , intervened in Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government...